SAN FRANCISCO -- If one decision summed up the 49ers' meekest offensive display under Jim Harbaugh's watch, it came 2 yards from the Carolina Panthers' end zone.

The 49ers, already with a 6-0 lead in hand in the second quarter, sent their offense onto the field and bluffed as if they were going for it on fourth-and-1. Instead, they opted for another Phil Dawson field goal and never again got closer to the goal line in a 10-9 loss Sunday that snapped a five-game win streak.

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) is called for a face mask penalty as he pushes away from Carolina Panthers inside linebacker A.J. Klein (56) in the second quarter of their game at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday, Nov. 10, 2013. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
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JOSE CARLOS FAJARDO
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What unfolded was the lowest offensive output (151 yards) since Harbaugh took over as coach in 2011. Idle last weekend, the 49ers (6-3) fell 2﻿1/2 games behind the NFC West-leading Seattle Seahawks (9-1).

Harbaugh cited two of the 49ers' many casualties Sunday for why they bailed out on fourth-and-1 from the 2.

"We really were out of a couple personnel groups we would have liked to have been in in that situation," Harbaugh said. "Both (Garrett) Celek and Vernon Davis were out. We needed time to move personnel around to accommodate that situation."

Celek left with a first-quarter hamstring injury, Davis exited with a concussion two snaps before the fourth-and-1 call, and that left only one healthy tight end, Vance McDonald. The 49ers entered the game 6 of 8 on fourth-down calls, but without their regular two tight-end package, their power-run game apparently was put on hold.

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Wide receiver Anquan Boldin called the 49ers' overall offensive display "unacceptable." They had just 46 net passing yards when factoring in Kaepernick's career-high six sacks.

Kaepernick was 11 of 22 for 91 yards, and his final pass resulted in an interception during what he called "desperation mode" for the league's worst-ranked passing attack.

As the 49ers' second-leading receiver, Davis' absence loomed large, and a reminder came when McDonald dropped a potential 35-yard pass at the Panthers' 25-yard line early in the fourth quarter.

The 49ers defense admirably overcame its own war of attrition, losing safety Eric Reid to a concussion and defensive tackle Ray McDonald to an ankle injury. Among the unit's reinforcements was Aldon Smith, who returned from a five-game absence but played only 11 snaps, typically one or two a series in a pass-rushing role.

Linebacker NaVorro Bowman called it "stressful, knowing you're playing well but can't control the other side of the ball (with the 49ers offense)."

Third downs especially doomed Kaepernick & Co. They converted just 2 of 13 third-down opportunities, mirroring their 3-of-12 efforts in their losses to the Seattle Seahawks and Indianapolis Colts in Weeks 2 and 3.

"That's all on us," Boldin said. "We have a number of weapons on offense. We've got to do a better job of making it happen."

Caught on camera yelling after one of the 49ers' failed drives, Boldin disputed the notion he was directing his anger at Kaepernick. Boldin finished with three receptions for 23 yards, and Mario Manningham had three for 30 in his season debut.

The Panthers (6-3) won their fifth straight behind a solid defensive effort, timely offense and clutch special teams.

"They're a good defense, but today was more of our lack of execution than what they were doing," Kaepernick said.